Sharks' Raffi Torres practices again, could play in playoff opener

San Jose Sharks' Raffi Torres (13) passes the puck to Brent Burns (88) to take a 2-1 lead against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)
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Josie Lepe
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SAN JOSE -- The Sharks appear to be a mostly healthy group -- with the exception of Adam Burish and possibly Raffi Torres -- going into Thursday's Game 1 of their opening-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Torres, who hasn't played since March 8 because of general soreness in his surgically repaired knee, skated for the third straight day Wednesday without any significant issues on a fourth line that included Mike Brown, Bracken Kearns and Andrew Desjardins.

Torres' availability will likely be determined after Thursday's morning skate at SAP Center.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan said he talked to Torres on Tuesday after practice and said Torres "felt better and better. Today, he looked even better. So you can probably interpret that as him being ready. Now, with that being said, I haven't sat with him or met with him after the skate today."

The top line in Wednesday's practice remained intact with Joe Thornton, Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski. Tomas Hertl, who played in the Sharks' two regular-season games and skated with the third line, is also improving, McLellan said.

"Some of that is our mindset. You begin to think of him as a regular player, you don't think of him as an injured guy working his way back in," McLellan said. "If he feels that from us, and from his teammates, it moves him along quicker and further."

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The Sharks defensemen have had to adjust to different partners almost all season. But it appears at least that the top two pairs right now are established with Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jason Demers, and Justin Braun and Brad Stuart. Dan Boyle will likely play with Scott Hannan or Matt Irwin.

"I've played with almost everyone, but it's nice to be able to play with one guy for an extended period of time and create some chemistry, and get to a point where you can read each other and don't have to necessarily talk a lot on the ice," Stuart said. "You just kind of know what's going to happen."

McLellan reiterated Wednesday that he'll announce who his starting goalie will be for Game 1 on Thursday, adding that player -- Antti Niemi or Alex Stalock -- knows he is playing.